So now I'm not a Christian

Last night I saw that a particular chain on social media had become quite nasty, and that several people whose views I normally respected were simply bashing each other.  I thought it wise to intervene just to inject a little sanity into the conversation.  I never expected to have my spirituality called into question over this bit of nonsense.

 The argument had to do with whether Christians are being subjected to discrimination and even persecution in the United States.  I have no opinion whatsoever about this subject but I do have an opinion about people using nasty language to each other--especially those who purport to be Christians.  Love is the very basis of Christianity.  In Matthew, Jesus tells us that there are two great commandments: Love God and love your neighbor.  It is one of the few times that Jesus gave a direct order to anyone.  He did not say love God only if He is referred to as Yahweh, Hashem,Allah, or Jehovah.  He said to love God, thereby leading me to believe that all humans who love God, under whatever guise, fulfill this commandment.  

At the same time, Jesus told us to love one another.  He did not say we should love people who look like us, or people who agree with us, or who are straight or gay, Republican or Democrat.  He said to love our neighbors.  How simple should that be?  Love everyone.  We can hate some of the things they do but we must love the people themselves.  Reflect on that for a moment.  When a beloved child commits an act of which we do not approve, good parents tell the child that they are not happy with what he did--not with who he is.  We should extend this type of understanding to everyone. 

In summary, a friend on the chain told me that I had no right to an opinion because I am not a Christian. I reminded everyone on the chain that neither was Jesus. However, I do not agree.  I am a Christian because I follow the philosophy of Jesus. I can and do love God and my neighbors. However, I believe there is a special place in hell for all those swelled headed individuals who thump the Bible and try to tell me that they are the only ones who know what God really wants. Someone then asked me if I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  I reminded him that Jesus did not ask me to do that, but people certainly have.

While it is true that in Luke we find Jesus telling the Samaritan woman at the well that he is the one who was expected, we need to remember that the Gospels we read today were gathered and approved by a fellow named Irenaious in the first century.  Who knows what he put in and left out?  I certainly do not. However, as a student of history, I know more that most and I can tell you that in the first century, there were at least 20 different "New Testaments."  At the same time, further scriptures were discovered as late as 1945 and give us a very different view of events and philosophical considerations of the life of Jesus.

In the end, none of us really knows the absolute truth. Some of it has been lost to history while some may still lie buried in the sands of the Sinai.  The real point is that it is of little importance. Recognize that there is a God by being the best human you can be.  Please God by loving your neighbors. Quit bashing those who do not agree with you and believe me when I say that I am a Christian.